Lianna was amazing! She was so fun and friendly and made my birthday dinner extra special. I split the Fiorintine/princess T-bone steak and vodka pasta with my girlfriend, best of both worlds. My family and I had such a great time and will definitely be back! read more

Lianna was super great to me and my family. We absolutely loved her service, energy, and recommendations. Can't wait to be back to Basta and hope she's our waitress again. We appreciate her. read more

My first time visiting and it did not disappoint! I'm from LA and have been hearing from friends and colleagues here in the area that this place is worth the drive. Lianna is so kind and gave great recommendations. The short ribs and truffle pasta were incredible. 10/10 would recommend read more

I got the Pecatore bowl for take out, unfortunately it was awful. It came with 3 pieces of shrimp which were all burnt. None of the flavors of the vegetables and rice went together. The carrots were sour and there was an unpleasant strong vinegar flavor in the rice. The service at the front of house and bar were great - I would not recommend this dish. read more

We've been to Basta many times over the years and have always enjoyed the food, which is why this experience was so disappointing. My mom and I came in for lunch on Monday shortly after opening. Our waitress was wonderful from the start. I ordered the pesto pasta, and my mom ordered the new artichoke appetizer. My pasta came out fairly quickly, but my mom's order never arrived. After asking twice about the delay, our waitress apologized and explained there had been a miscommunication in the kitchen and the order had been missed. She kindly offered my mom a salad while they prepared the artichoke. By the time the salad arrived, I had already finished my meal. A few minutes later, the artichoke finally came out, we never got to eat lunch together. I ate alone, and then my mom ate alone. Since she had already eaten only some of the salad that was offered because of the delay, she could only eat about half of the artichoke and needed a to-go box. When the check came, the salad had been removed from the bill, but the artichoke was still charged in full. We weren't looking for free food, we simply felt that, since the restaurant acknowledged the mistake, some additional effort should have been made to make things right. The manager came over and again acknowledged that the kitchen had missed the order. However, she said the complimentary salad was all they could do. When I explained that my mom never ordered the salad, it was offered because of the delay, she still wouldn't adjust the bill. She also told us that if we wanted the artichoke removed from the bill, we couldn't take home the half that was left. While I understand restaurants have policies, that response felt unnecessarily petty given that the mistake was entirely on the restaurant's end. The food was delicious, and our waitress handled the situation great. My disappointment is with how the issue was handled by management. Mistakes happen, but how they're resolved is what people remember. Unfortunately, we left feeling disappointed after what has always been one of our favorite places to eat. read more

Basta is our new favorite Italian restaurant in the area. Service is very warm and friendly, portions are hearty, and the food is delicious. We came for a celebratory dinner and had cannellini bean hummus, roasted potatoes, roasted cauliflower, whole rotisserie chicken, truffle pasta, caprese pizza, and gluten free carrot cake for dessert. The hummus was a very large portion and came with cucumber and fresh bread. The cauliflower was a whole head of cauliflower cut into thirds with a golden raisin vinaigrette. We were nearly full after just the appetizer. All our entrees were very well-liked, and we ended up taking home leftovers of everything. The gluten free carrot cake came with vanilla gelato and was very good. Ambiance is bustling, busy and loud. It's a casual, and don't necessarily expect a quiet romantic type of atmosphere. We'll definitely be back! read more

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My boss was treating my girlfriend and I to dinner to celebrate and we were delighted he chose Basta. We were delighted with the warm reception and nice atmosphere. While there is no reservations, we decided to wait at the bar for a table but just ended up staying at the bar to dine. Their bartender was new to the role but seemed very knowledgeable about their menu. She was efficient with our cocktails, beer, all while also overseeing our dinner and appetizers. We ordered hummus, meatballs to start. The hummus was delicious! We scraped the plate and enjoyed the meatballs as well. They we're generous portions and put a dent in our appetite. For our pastas, I really savored the cavatelli. It's creamy short grain pasta had lovely salty flavor, and in my option outshined my girlfriends tagliatelle. My opinion was confirmed when she asked to switch plates after trying my dish. lol. Overall the dinner was amazing. I'd like to comeback to try more cocktails and their steak plates which is have heard are phenomenal. read more

Basta Restaurant - Cavatelli alla Norcina - Italian Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

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Lianna is incredible! Best waitress ever!!! So fun, so knowledgeable, so funny! We will come back just to have her as our server!

Lianna is so friendly and helpful with the menu! . We will definitely ask to be seated at her table again!

We love Basta and come here for special occasions. Lianna is the best waitress at Basta! She's so adorable and happy and energetic and makes the experience of eating at Basta even more enjoyable. read more

Basta is one of my go-to spots, and it never disappoints! Great food, great atmosphere, and consistently good vibes. Lianna always takes excellent care of us -- friendly, attentive, and just the right amount of fun to make the evening even better. I come here often, and it's service like hers that keeps me coming back. Huge thanks to Lianna and the Basta team for always making it a great experience! read more

Had a fantastic dinner at Basta after snagging a seat at the bar and settling in next to a chatty, terrific couple of folks. The atmosphere is lively and casual, yet warm and welcoming. A very comfortable restaurant. The bartender, Heather, was friendly and very attentive, handling everyone with a great degree of humor, and always remembering everything thrown at her -- a total pro. I started with a gin martini, which was expertly made, and followed that with Wagyu Carpaccio. Let me tell you, having recently paid a fortune for the "original" carpaccio at Cipriani, this version at Basta was far better tasting and a far more generous portion for less than half the price. The meat was slightly seared at the edges but perfectly pink inside, packed with flavor and tender as could be. A fantastic bite. For my main, I had a pasta dish that's enigmatically named "The Brian Bowen Smith." This is al dente spaghetti in a deeply rich tomato sauce with grilled octopus and bone marrow. Yowza!!! From the texture to the myriad levels of flavor, this is a spectacular dish of pasta, and, again, a huge portion for just $26. It's important to note that the real specialty of the house is large format steaks, up for 4 pounds, and cooked over live fire in the traditional Italian way. I will be coming back soon with a gang so we can jump into the steak -- but go anytime for the pasta, the amazing looking pizzas, and a whole menu of food that calls out your name. A great meal!! read more

Basta Restaurant - The Brian Bowen Smith: spaghetti with rich tomato sauce, grilled octopus and bone marrow. - Italian Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

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We came here for the first time for our anniversary. Robert was so helpful with helping us understand the menu and what to order. Food was amazing. Service was exceptional read more

Basta Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

Was here for a meet and greet and the cocktails were exceptional. As for food I had the wagyu burger, which was plenty and tasteful. I'm looking forward to going back read more

Lianna was the best!!! So knowledgeable about the menu, checked in throughout the whole experience, was so kind and happy. Definitely made our dining out experience amazing. read more

I'm not one to post negative reviews, but this experience felt worth sharing for others considering Basta in Agoura Hills. My intention is not to criticize unfairly, but to provide constructive feedback that could help improve the overall experience. ATMOSPHERE (3 Stars) Basta has a nice, casual interior and a lively atmosphere. The place was busy and packed when we went, which usually feels like a good sign. We sat at the bar and ordered food. THE FOOD (2 Stars) My girlfriend ordered the Pappardelle , and her friend ordered the cavatelli alla norcina. Unfortunately, the cavatelli came out cold and watery --something I later noticed had been mentioned by another Yelper as well, so this doesn't seem like an isolated issue. Overall, the food was fair--nothing terrible, but nothing memorable either. THE SERVICE (1 Star) The service from the bartender (4 stars) was good--friendly and attentive. However, the experience took a sharp turn because of an interaction with the manager. Out of nowhere, he leaned over and asked my girlfriend if she had said something to him. She looked genuinely confused, and he then said she was a "class act" for saying it. The problem is: she hadn't said anything to him at all. The accusation came without context or explanation, and it felt completely unprovoked. The way the manager handled this was inappropriate. He invaded her personal space, came across as rude, and left her feeling intimidated rather than welcomed. Regardless of whatever misunderstanding he thought occurred, that's not how you speak to a customer--especially when no issue was raised in the first place. As we were about to leave, the manager came by again and said there must have been a misunderstanding. It was clear this wasn't a misunderstanding at all, and notably, there was no real apology. My girlfriend also tried to speak with the owner about what happened, but he brushed it off, which was disappointing and dismissive. While the food was just okay, the bigger issue was the management. That interaction--and the lack of accountability afterward--overshadowed the entire visit and seriously impacted what could have been a decent experience. Customer service matters, and unfortunately, the manager missed the mark. read more

Basta Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

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If you're looking for an amazing atmosphere, this is the place to visit. I will say that the staff were very attentive. Almost too attentive. Was not able to get through a conversation without being Interrupted. Probably three times. Every time. I started talking to my friends at the table. This place was listed as an exclusive dinning experience. I don't know that I would visit there again. The food while some of it was amazing. Other dishes were not as well received. And the raspberry tart was basically like a hockey puck and tasted like cardboard. However, when I asked to exchange it, they were very very gracious and help me find something that absolutely was divine. Take it or leave it. Give it a chance if you never visited. read more

The service was fantastic. Food was delicious, one of the best steaks I've ever had. I can't wait to go back. read more

Basta Restaurant - Ice cold martini - Italian Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

Cruz was excellent. His menu recommendations were perfect and he was personable and a joy.

Definitely authentic Italian food. Great menu. High quality food. Great service by Daniel and his buzz assistant. Unlike in real Italy you get plenty of free water refills:) Nice outside seating and nice interior. I have been back a few times, they have been consistent. Only place I know that has Pinsa Romana. read more

This establishment is in the simplest terms, absurdly delightful. The sort of place that convinces you, after one bite of pasta and half a glass of wine, that perhaps all of life's troubles are merely temporary inconveniences. The vodka pasta was so outrageously good. I also partook in the truffle pasta and the meatball pasta, both of which arrived at the table with the confidence of dishes that know full well they are superior. And the butterscotch pudding .... sweet heavens.... possessed the kind of richness that could mend broken relationships and restore faith in humanity. A grand and noble salute must also be given to Josephina, patron saint of excellent recommendations and remarkable patience. She was endlessly kind, attentive, and charming, and every suggestion she offered was a triumph of culinary wisdom. May God bless you, Josephina. May your coffee always be hot, your parking always nearby, and your days forever peaceful. read more

Basta Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

Fantastic ! I have reviewed this place so much over the years because it's a main staple for me in the area. Both Basta locations are excellent but the Agoura location is still the best for me. The energy always seems more inviting here plus the shopping stores around it make it more traditional. Basta is Always a fun, not overly priced and reliable Italian meal. Everything on the menu is absolutely fantastic. Believe me, I have literally tried it all. Yet on tonights menu, I noticed something new. I tried a new pasta dish, oh it was so spicy and brought new found tastes for me.. absolutely excellent! To get it right, I had to show the dish below. STRASCINATI 3 POMODORI Rolled Handmade Pasta, San Marzano Corbarino Confit Tomatoes, Calabrian Chili Pepper, Parmigiano Reggiano DOP I love that the restaurant occasionally infuses seasonal type dishes to it's consistent lineup. I think that would be even more fantastic if they start doing that more. Imagine, what will be on the menu this upcoming week/month? Your client base would be even more excited and even more driven to come back in. I think the specials and menu could further evolve more creatively/ seasonal but that's just a personal opinion coming from someone who eats a ton of Italian food. Eitherway, always a fantastic meal at Basta. It's also always nice to talk with inviting staff about food and Italy too. Oh, I almost forgot- don't forget to try the butterscotch pudding for desert. Just saying........ Thank you read more

Basta Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

This pasta is amazing!! I am not that big on pasta but loved the food here. Love the servers as well. Everyone was friendly and committed to creating a great experience. Can't wait to go back. read more

Basta is a cozy and delicious Italian restaurant that's quickly become one of my favorites in the area. The menu has a great variety, and everything we've tried has been fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Some standouts: the octopus salad -- tender and perfectly seasoned -- and the Wagyu carpaccio, which is rich, delicate, and full of flavor. The pastas are also excellent across the board, each with that authentic, homemade feel that makes Italian food so comforting. Service is friendly and attentive, and the warm, inviting ambiance makes it an ideal spot for a relaxed dinner or date night. A wonderful neighborhood gem and easily one of the best Italian restaurants around. read more

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What an experience. From the moment we checked in, I knew this would be a great evening. We absolutely loved Lianna! She was so patient with our laundry list of allergies and she made sure that every minute of our dinner was special. And then to meet the owner and executive chef. What an incredible night. Literally in tears with how magical, delicious and warm of an evening. Can't wait to come back and become a regular! Run and go experience for yourself! Not to mention it's gorgeous! read more

So good. We loved Saturday lunch and it's much quieter and easier to get seated by day. There's construction out back so the patio isn't that quiet... no biggie inside was a nice option and we didn't have to wait. I craved the grilled octopus salad and it's a rare treat for me. Cooked perfectly over an ample salad. Hubs said his chicken parm was a 9 out of 10. Servers were attentive and it's an overall winner. Heads above many Italian restaurants. Many wait staff members have Italian accents so it's legit. read more

They were able to accommodate our group of 6 on their beautiful shaded outdoor patio that felt like being transported to Italy. All their food is ethical, humane & sustainable and very tasty, though the portions were a little small for the price. The server was very friendly and happy to answer all our questions and they were able to split the check. read more

Basta Restaurant - Sausage & potato ravioli - Italian Near Me - Agoura Hills, California

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Our favorite Italian restaurant honestly in all of LA! Service is always impeccable... we are treated like family every time. Lianna and Alessandra are always so sweet and kind and make us feel like we're coming back home for dinner. As someone who studied abroad in Florence, this place is also so authentic! The handmade pasta is so incredible (I order the vodka pasta every time) and the tiramisu with the cantucci inside is truly my favorite tiramisu in the world! read more

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We have been coming to Basta for a few years now and every time is an amazing experience, this time we can for my daughter birthday and Lianna made our experience unforgettable, the King Steak was cooked to perfection. Thanks for such an amazing service Lianna read more

Everything at Basta was FABULOUS!! First off our waitress Lianna was incredibly welcoming and bubbly. She was extremely knowledgeable about the wines and antipasti. The Prosciutto and Capicollo were both delicious along with the cheeses, which were stupendous !! Homemade pasta a dream! Especially for a full blooded Italian!! I will definitely be bringing mamma here to eat and meet Severio and requesting Lianna! She is an excellent server!! Tanti auguri e mille grazie! read more

I have heard of basta and was so excited to be in the area so I could try it. It is a small cozy restaurant that was so cute inside. We arrived around 5pm and got a table immediately but by 5:30 it was packed and there was a wait. Our waiter was awesome and so knowledgeable with great recommendations and explaining the menu. My husband got the lasagna special and I got the mussels. Every bite was better than the next. It was fresh and flavorful and I just kept wanting more. Every item on the menu looked amazing and I can't wait to go back to try more! They bring you bread to start which was good and a nice way to start your meal. They share a parking lot with quite a few other businesses so parking can be hard but we thankfully found a spot. read more

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Not sure what was better, the meal or the service? Lianna was absolutely wonderful. Great recommendation, very attentive, not to mention genuine and just a ray of sunshine. Sat outside and ambience was perfect to celebrate our sisters birthday thanks for everything Lianna! and thank you Basta! read more

My favorite Italians restaurant Short ribs. That's my strongest suggestion very popular. Very busy so noisy and crowded

I thought that on a Saturday afternoon at just before 5 PM, this restaurant would not be crowded. Wrong! It was packed to the gills. Even David Caruso was there. The wait for a table was not terribly long. The space itself is very nice. The service was outstanding. At the bar, Jack is extremely personable. Our server, Lianna, is extremely attentive, and she is beyond personable. WHAT A PERSONALITY! The food is very good. Comparatively speaking, the prices for what we had were fairly reasonable. Overall, we had a wonderful experience here and definitely will return. Thanks again most specifically to Jack and Lianna. read more

Basta is always worth the wait! The food is fantastic with excellent choices. Lianna is a such a great server and upgrades the Basta experience even more. read more

Had to charge the car and was feeling a little hungry - therefore, decided on Basta for a quick little dinner. They had a wait and so I decided to order it to go. They gladly gave us bread while we wait for our food to be done! I got the Girasoli di Burrata. It didn't take long before the food came and ate it outside. The food was...small. It was a $24 pasta for 6 ravioli pieces. The taste also wasn't impressive and the inside was a little bland. It was disappointing as the reviews say their food was good but maybe next time, if we do decide to eat in - we'll have a better experience. read more

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The food was so slow and we rarely got refills on our drinks and the food took forever. The food was all unliked by our whole table. Awful, thick homemade noodles and soggy pizza. It's like our server disappeared most of the time and couldn't find her especially when we needed something and at the end of the night when it came time to pay. The most upsetting part was that the server with the accent and tattooed sleeves kept touching my husbands shoulder and back. It was SO disgusting, disrespectful and unprofessional. Absolutely wild and uncalled for. You do not ever touch a customer let a lone a man with his wife and family. What an unprofessional business and we will definitely never be back. read more

We came to Basta Restaurant for a date night hoping for rustic Italian flavors and a cozy atmosphere, and in many ways the restaurant delivered on that experience. The evening started strong with the wood-fired mussels. The portion size alone was impressive--nearly two pounds of mussels, as our server proudly pointed out. The broth leaned more toward a lighter, soup-like consistency rather than a rich butter jus, but the flavor was excellent. It was deeply garlicky and buttery, making it incredibly satisfying for dipping bread and soaking up every last bit. The only part of the dish that felt slightly off was the bone marrow. I had expected the bone to be split open with the marrow facing up, as many photos online show, but instead it remained tucked inside the bone so we had to fish it out ourselves. A small detail, but it made the experience slightly awkward compared to the otherwise enjoyable starter. For the mains, we ordered the pasta special of the day, which was finished tableside in a cheese wheel. The presentation added a fun theatrical element to the meal. The pasta itself had great flavor and was cooked properly al dente, but unfortunately it was served noticeably cold, which dulled the richness that should have come from the cheese. We also tried the Margherita Classica pizza. The crust had an excellent thin structure and bake--light, crisp, and well executed. Flavor-wise it was classic and balanced, though the cheese had a slightly rubbery texture. It also arrived with only two basil leaves, so I asked for a bit more since I enjoy a stronger herbal note. The highlight of the night was easily the 45-day dry-aged ribeye. At $75 per pound, our cut came in just over two pounds and arrived with an impressive tableside carving presentation. Finished with olive oil, flaky sea salt, cracked black pepper, and juice from a grilled lemon, the flavor was phenomenal--deep, rich, and intensely beefy. The only downside was texture. Because of the heavy dry aging, the meat leaned toward the tougher side and required more chewing than ideal. Still, the flavor, sear, and presentation made it a memorable centerpiece. Dessert sealed the meal on a high note. The butter cake had an incredible crust while remaining perfectly warm and soft in the center. The vanilla ice cream melted quickly against the heat of the cake, but the berry sauce added a bright balance that made the dish incredibly satisfying. Overall, dining at Basta was genuinely enjoyable. The attentive service, easy seating, and engaging tableside presentations made the night feel special. The menu captures rustic Italian flavors well, though some dishes could benefit from tighter execution--particularly temperature control and maximizing the potential of their impressive dry-aged meats. Still, for a relaxed date night with bold flavors and a bit of tableside flair, Basta delivers an experience that's well worth a visit. read more

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I usually don't write reviews, but I had to give a shoutout to Lianna! She was such an amazing server and genuinely made my boyfriend's birthday dinner so much fun. She was super friendly, funny, attentive, and just had the best energy. She made the whole night feel extra special, and we had such a great time because of her. Thank you, Lianna!! We'll definitely be back read more

I recently celebrated my wedding anniversary at Basta, and Lianna was such a delight to have as our waitress!